Initiatives towards Advanced Practice Nursing Implementation in the Region of the Americas

Autonomia da enfermeira na Atenção Primária: das práticas colaborativas à prática avançada

“…(6,7) The need to expand the population's access to qualified health professionals for working in PHC with quality, equity and completeness also offers possibilities for increasing competencies of the multiprofessional team, especially nurses' autonomy. (8,9) Autonomy is a component of professional practice and a prerequisite for higher professional satisfaction. It implies the freedom to make independent evidence-based clinical decisions, both in the specific field of the profession and in the context of multiprofessional work of health teams.…”

Prática avançada de enfermagem na América Latina e Caribe: análise de contexto

“…Subsequently, a new classifi cation emerged in the 1960s -the advanced practice nurse or Nurse Practitioner (NP), in which care is focused on primary health care (PHC). (1)(2)(3) For the International Council of Nurses (ICN), APN is the performance of specifi c and complex activities, and the ability to make decisions independently in order to meet the population needs in health. (4) Th e inclusion of APN showed nurses' relevance by demonstrating that their autonomy promoted greater coverage of care, more effi cient care, reduction of costs, eff ective management activities in line with population demand, credibility and affi rmation of the profession.…”

“…(3,5) With a view to providing greater accessibility and quality of care, APN was disseminated worldwide, in Canada in the late 1960s, and in Europe and Asia in the 1980s. (1,2,5) In Latin America, APN spread only at the beginning of the 21 st century through the formulation of resolutions and research developed in educational institutions. (1,(5)(6)(7)(8) Th is search for the promotion of APN in Latin American countries occurred due to local socioeconomic needs and, despite diff erences in the levels of development of these countries, there are still obstacles for achieving quality health care, mainly because of human and material resources defi cits.…”

“…(1,2,5) In Latin America, APN spread only at the beginning of the 21 st century through the formulation of resolutions and research developed in educational institutions. (1,(5)(6)(7)(8) Th is search for the promotion of APN in Latin American countries occurred due to local socioeconomic needs and, despite diff erences in the levels of development of these countries, there are still obstacles for achieving quality health care, mainly because of human and material resources defi cits. (5)(6)(7)(8)(9) Th us, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) adopted Resolution CD52.R13: Human Resources for Health: Increasing Access to Qualifi ed Health Workers in Systems Based on Primary Health Care-based Health Systems.…”

“…However, the quality of postgraduate courses in Latin America has to be expanded and optimized, as well as the support of nursing institutions and governmental agencies in those countries. (1,4,(10)(11)(12) Th e aforementioned shows the determination of world institutions in achieving the implementation of APN in Latin American countries with the aim to facilitate the population's access to health services, off er qualifi ed health care, minimize social inequalities, and value and enhance nursing professionals' training. (1,5,6,8,12,13) Th erefore, if the development and affi rmation of APN in a given locality depends on its context, there must be an understanding of the possible strengths and weaknesses for the easier design of measures that contribute to promotion of APN in Latin America and the Caribbean.…”